Astronomers at Keele University, England, will be observing dwarf novae in
outburst with the 4-meter William Herschel Telescope between February 24 and
26 in order to obtain spectroscopy. They have requested our assistance in
monitoring dwarf novae, and in particular the dwarf novae listed below, in
order to know which systems are in outburst at the time of their observations:

Your assistance will be crucial to the success of this observing run. Please
monitor these and other dwarf novae closely until the end of February and
report your observations to AAVSO Headquarters daily by email, fax, or
telephone so we may inform the astronomers.

REQUEST TO MONITOR 1807+69 3C 371 (DRACO)

As announced in AAVSO News Flash No. 105, astronomers at the Osservatorio
Astronomico di Brera, Italy, have been observing since January and will be
observing the Blazar 3C 371 in Draco [RA 18h 07m 18.5s; Dec +69o 48' 58"(2000)]
intensively with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite over the coming
months. They have requested our assistance in providing optical observations
before, during, and after the ISO observations.

The approximate schedule of the remaining satellite observations is as follows:

Accompanying are AAVSO preliminary 'b', 'd', and 'e' scale charts of 3C 371
prepared by C. Scovil from a British Astronomical Association chart by J.
Toone. Please use these charts dated 1/1997 to monitor 3C 371, which has an
optical range of 14.3 - 16.1 in the AAVSO data files, and report your
observations to AAVSO Headquarters by email, fax, or telephone.

BRIGHT MAXIMUM OF 0214-03 OMICON CET (MIRA)

According to reports received from observers around the world, the long period
variable omicron Cet (Mira) is undergoing a very bright maximum. According
to observations reported to the AAVSO, its present visual magnitude is 2.4.
The magnitude of Mira at maximum can vary significantly from cycle to cycle.

The many observations of this star reported to the AAVSO yield the following
average magnitudes, showing the rise of Mira to its present brightness:

According to the prediction made in AAVSO Bulletin 59, Mira should be at
maximum in mid-February 1997, and the very small change in brightness since the
beginning of February supports this prediction. The last maximum of Mira was
in mid-March 1996.

Please monitor Mira, the first variable star discovered, and report your
observations to the AAVSO with your monthly report.

The answering machine at AAVSO Headquarters is on nights and weekends for your
convenience. Please call our charge-free number (800-642-3883) to report your
observations. If you are cut off when you telephone in your observations,
please wait a few minutes and call back to complete your call. We have learned
that if someone calls to leave observations on the answering machine and while
they are speaking someone else calls, the first person may be cut off. We
also encourage observers to send observations by fax to 617-354-0665 or by
e-mail through the Internet to observations@aavso.org. We would appreciate it
very much if you would report your observations in Universal Time.

Many thanks for your valuable astronomical contributions and your efforts.